Cover Story - Volume 6 • Issue 4

To the Nines:

Breaking down the top nine hole courses on the North Shore

By Jeremy Gottlieb • Photos by Jim Vaiknoras & David Colt

Less is more.

It’s not exactly a phrase any avid golfer would apply to the game he or she loves. But in this day and age, with the economy struggling and free time at a premium, such an axiom makes more sense in regard to playing the game, a development that has resulted in a greater importance and level of popularity for the nine-hole course. Playing at a nine-hole layout, of which there are several in the area, means a lower fee to pay, a shorter distance to travel and less of a time commitment, all factors that appeal to the average player in the current climate.

“Playing nine holes is more appealing than ever,” said Mike Flynn, head pro and proprietor of Lakeview Golf Club in Wenham. “You can save some money playing nine more locally as opposed to going to one of the places further off. You spend less on playing and on gas. If you have a family, you can stay local, be in and out in two hours and get home before you get yelled at. I think the days of getting up on a Saturday morning and heading off to play all day are over.”

With the practicality of playing nine continuing to rise, here’s a look at some of the top nine-hole courses in the area broken down into a few basic categories.

The Toughest Nine

1. Ould Newbury GC, Newbury - From its slick elevated greens to the famed large oak that guards the ninth green, don’t expect to go too low here.

2. Carriage Pines GC, Rowley - Best bring an extra sleeve of balls to the former Rowley Country Club – and that’s just for the third hole alone.

3. King Rail GC, Lynnfield/Wakefield - As anyone who has played the front nine at the old Colonial can attest, the King Rail may be the only birdie you’ll find here.

4. Amesbury CC, Amesbury - The view from the Amesbury’s picturesque elevated first tee often trumps the vista on your scorecard at the end of the round.

5. Unicorn GC, Stoneham - Measuring 3,234 from the tees this Wayne Stiles’ tester is not as friendly as your daughter’s unicorn.

Most Popular Nine:

Lakeview Golf Club

Whether it be in the dog days of summer or a warm day in March, there’s always plenty of activitiy at Lakeview GC.

Not only is Lakeview Golf Club the most popular nine-hole course in the area, it may be the ultimate nine-hole course as well. It’s open all year. It’s affordable. It’s on Route 1A in Wenham. It’s a relatively easy walk. It’s a playable course for players of any skill level. It’s an institution.

“We have a nice, little course,” said Flynn of his 80-year old baby. “It’s always in good shape, you can play in under two hours most of the time, and it’s challenging enough that if you’re a good player, you can leave the big clubs in the car.”

Lakeview is also consistent. Flynn raised prices earlier this year for the first time since 2003 – by $1.

“I haven’t been in a while, but you can probably spend more going to the movies,” he said.

Lakeview hosts roughly 22,000 rounds per year with seven leagues playing Monday-Thursday nights as well as Thursday mornings. The league numbers have gone down a bit in recent years in terms of individual participation – Flynn estimates that a 30-player league in the past now would only have 16. On the flip side, there is more time for public play, whether it’s a couple of buddies having a round before work or a father going out with his wife and two kids.

“It’s a forgiving course for the novice to intermediate player,” said Pat Dailey, a Lakeview employee since 1992. “It really lends itself well to families. Some folks grew up playing here and now are able to introduce the course to their kids. We hear and see things like that a lot. It’s nice to see.”

There aren’t too many courses that can offer something that works for anyone, nine holes or 18. Lakeview continues to prosper because it does just that. Flynn’s nice, little course is also much more.

Most Scenic Nine:

Cape Ann Golf Course

With views like this one from the fourth tee, golf often becomes almost secondary at Cape Ann GC in Essex.

The smell of salt water tickles the nostrils at Cape Ann Golf Course, the most scenic nine-hole layout in the area. On the Essex coast, with the ocean just minutes away, the course, designed in 1930 for the Stavros family by noted architect and Donald Ross protégé Skip Wogan, offers a challenging but fun round to players, complete with breathtaking views of the marsh, the Essex River basin and Hog Island.

“Boy is there some beautiful scenery,” said Jack Sawyer, a Gloucester native and member at Cape Ann for over 25 years who occasionally helps out in the club house. “You can get some pretty impressive views of the marsh, especially from the fourth tee and the seventh hole. I think it’s a big part of what keeps people coming back here all these years.”

At first glance, Cape Ann appears to be a much easier looking tract than, say, Ould Newbury, thanks to its open, expansive layout. But its looks are deceiving, with enough blind or obstructed shots to keep players on their toes, as well as the unpredictable nature of the weather conditions given its close proximity to the water. Wind can frequently be a factor, often changing directions and picking up at inopportune times.

“It’s possible to score well, but it’s not too easy here, which is great,” said Sawyer, who first experienced the course as a child, “when my father used to send me into the woods looking for lost balls.”

“The course always seems to play differently.”

The favorite local course of author John Updike, Cape Ann, which is still family owned and operated nearly 80 years on, gives visitors an opportunity to play the game as if they are inside a portrait or a postcard. One spin around the grounds will run you a mere $20, with a second go-around costing $35. League play occurs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as on Sunday mornings with the course always open to the public.

“It’s very nice here,” said Sawyer. “I’ll keep sneaking out when I can.”

Most Challenging Nine:

Ould Newbury Golf Club

?After a challenging first eight holes, golfers at Ould Newbury have to find a way on to the tricky elevated ninth green.

“If you can play here, you can play anywhere,” said Ould Newbury head pro Jim Hilton regarding the lush, gorgeous course over which he presides. Located right on the Newbury Marsh just about a 5-iron away from the Governor’s Academy and Triton Regional High School, Ould Newbury Golf Club is the most challenging nine-hole layout in the area.

“Our slope and rating went up tremendously four years ago,” said Hilton referring to the numbers 71.8 and 129, respectively. “Sometimes even the better players don’t play as well the second time around. You have a lot of room off the tees here but the distances are deceiving and the greens are very small. The course plays longer than it looks. There’s not a lot of roll out there and there is a great deal of demand on the second shot.”

Hilton, a Newburyport native who has been the head pro at the 92 year-old course since 1983, but has been playing and working there since he was 10, holds the course record with a 64. He referred to the semi-private course as a “mom and pop” operation which is owned by the Governor’s Academy and is completely non-profit. Everything is put back into the course and the clubhouse, which has been proposed to be expanded along with the 19th Hole restaurant. Looking at the condition of the fairways and greens, it’s easy to see that few expenses are spared.

“Every hole is distinctive here,” said course superintendent Nathan Walker, now in his fifth season in that role. “The aesthetics and age of the course really stand out as well as the location and the views. We’ve been able to get some private club conditions here which is not common for a nine-hole course. This place is a gem and a lot of people have put a lot in to make it what it is both in terms of how it looks and how it plays.”

It may be tough, but there are multiple rewards to be found at Ould Newbury. “It’s really a fun place to play,” said Hilton. “And it will make you a better player.”

Most Worth the Drive:

Tewksbury Country Club

?What was once a thriving airport in Tewksbury has been transformed into an equally bustling golf course, complete with a magnificent clubhouse and restaurant (left).

“Nothing against playing 18 holes,” said Tewksbury Country Club head pro Mike Rogers, “but some people just don’t have the time for it thanks to other obligations. Nine holes fits the budget of a lot of people right now, and here you can get golf at a reasonable price with high-priced conditions.”

A far cry from its former incarnation as an airport, Tewksbury Country Club, one of the newer, more modern layouts around, is the nine-hole course most worth an extra few minutes in the car in the area. Covering 50 acres with a first fairway that used to be a runway, the 10-year old course is long enough to hit every club in the bag, but inviting and not too difficult for the novice player. What truly sells the course though, according to Rogers, is the way it looks.

“The conditions here is the first thing that comes to mind,” said Rogers, now in his eighth year as head pro. “There are no expenses spared as far as how the course looks.”

The process of transforming the former Tew-Mac Airport into what is now the country club was a swift undertaking, according to Rogers. Owner Marc Ginsburg pounced after the design of the course was complete, laying sod over the entire tract. Shortly thereafter, said Rogers, Tewksbury was “pretty much ready to roll.”

A high volume of players come and go at Tewksbury, with Rogers estimating 36,000 to 41,000 rounds per year. The club is very active with leagues, 18 of which play on Monday through Friday, closing the course to the public from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on those days. There is also a men’s league on Tuesday mornings and a ladies’ league on Thursday mornings. There are three function rooms at Tewksbury, as well as the Tew-Mac Tavern restaurant and the Patio, an outdoor dining facility.

At just 10 years old, there is not a lot of history at Tewksbury quite yet, but Rogers and company are working on it. Judging by the returns so far, they are well on their way.

“What would get me here is that you will show up, the course will be in great shape and you will get great service,” said Rogers.“You’ll get a great nine holes of golf and lunch, and you won’t lose the entire day.” n